Apparatus, systems and methods for proper transesophageal echocardiography probe positioning by using camera for ultrasound imaging

Abstract

In some embodiments, a method includes releasably attaching an image capture assembly to a distal portion of a TEE device. Next, the TEE device coupled to the image capture assembly is inserted into an oral cavity of the patient. With the image capture assembly releasably attached to the distal portion of the TEE device, image data of an esophagus of the patient captured by the image capture assembly is displayed. While viewing the display of image data, the TEE device coupled to the image capture assembly can be moved within the esophagus. With both the TEE device and the image capture assembly disposed within the esophagus, the image capture assembly is detached from the TEE device. With the image capture assembly detached from the TEE device, and with the TEE device disposed at least in part within the esophagus, the image capture assembly is removed from the patient.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for assisting intubation of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) ultrasound probe device with a proximal portion and a distal portion and an ultrasound transducer disposed at the distal portion, comprising:
 inserting the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device having coupled thereto via a coupling member an image capture device into an oral cavity of a patient, the coupling member being releasably attached to the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device such that the coupling member contiguously and entirely circumscribes the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device during the inserting; 
 viewing, after the inserting, a display of image data of an esophagus of the patient captured by the image capture device; 
 while viewing the display of image data, and with the image capture device attached to the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device via the coupling member, passing the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device through the esophagus and maneuvering the TEE ultrasound probe device to dispose the ultrasound transducer in a proper position for capturing ultrasound images of a heart; 
 with both the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device disposed within the esophagus, detaching the image capture device from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device; and 
 removing, after the detaching, via the esophagus, and with the TEE ultrasound probe device disposed at least in part within the esophagus, the image capture device from the patient. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 illuminating the esophagus with an illumination device coupled to the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device via the coupling member when the TEE ultrasound probe device coupled to the image capture device is disposed within the esophagus. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image capture device is coupled to a retrieval tension member extending from the image capture device through the esophagus and out the oral cavity of the patient when the image capture device is disposed within the esophagus,
 the removing the image capture device including applying tension to the retrieval tension member to remove the image capture device from the patient via the esophagus of the patient. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the tension corresponds to a force of about 12-18 Newtons applied to the image capture device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the retrieval tension member includes a tension coupler, the TEE ultrasound probe device includes a body disposed proximal to the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device, the removing the image capture device includes pulling a portion of the retrieval tension member proximally with the tension coupler slidably disposed about the body of the TEE ultrasound probe device to maintain the retrieval tension member and the image capture device proximate to the body of the TEE ultrasound probe device during the removing. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 processing, outside the patient, the image data captured by the image capture device to produce the display of image data, the display of image data being a graphical representation of the image data. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image capture device is coupled to a retrieval tension member extending from the image capture device through the esophagus and out a mouth of the patient when the image capture device is disposed within the esophagus, the method further comprising:
 outside the patient, releasably attaching a handle to a proximal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device, the handle being coupled to the retrieval tension member. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the TEE ultrasound probe device includes an imaging array, the method further comprising: 
 viewing a display of image data of a heart of the patient captured by the imaging array, the image data of the heart captured by the imaging array being based on sound waves received at the imaging array through a portion of the coupling member, the portion of the coupling member being substantially transparent to the sound waves. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image capture device is coupled to a retrieval tension member extending from the image capture device through the esophagus and out the oral cavity of the patient when the image capture device is disposed within the esophagus,
 the detaching the image capture device from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device including applying tension to the retrieval tension member, 
 the removing the image capture device including applying tension to the retrieval tension member to remove the image capture device from the patient via the esophagus of the patient. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the detaching the image capture device from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device includes applying tension to the retrieval tension member such that a seam defined by the image capture assembly is at least partially opened in response to the applied tension. 
     
     
       11. A method for assisting intubation of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) ultrasound probe device, comprising:
 inserting a distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device having coupled thereto via a coupling member an image capture device into an oral cavity of a patient, a body of the TEE ultrasound probe device extending proximally from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device, the coupling member being releasably attached to the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device such that the coupling member contiguously and entirely circumscribes the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device during the inserting; 
 viewing, after the inserting, a display of image data of an esophagus of the patient captured by the image capture device; 
 after the viewing, and with the image capture device attached to the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device via the coupling member, passing the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device through the esophagus and maneuvering the TEE ultrasound probe device to dispose the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device in a proper position for capturing ultrasound images of a heart, 
 a retrieval tension member extending from the image capture device through the esophagus and out the oral cavity of the patient when the image capture device is disposed within the esophagus; 
 with both the TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device disposed within the esophagus, applying tension to the retrieval tension member to move the image capture assembly and the coupling member proximally from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device; 
 and 
 removing, via the esophagus, and with the TEE ultrasound probe device disposed at least in part within the esophagus, the image capture device from the patient. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein one or more tension couplers are engaged with both the retrieval tension member and the body of the TEE ultrasound probe device during the applying the tension such that a distance between the retrieval tension member and the body of the TEE ultrasound probe device is limited, the one or more tension couplers includes at least one of a ring, a strap, or a magnet. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the tension corresponds to a force of about 12-18 Newtons applied to the image capture device. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the applying tension to the retrieval tension member to move the image capture device proximally from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device includes opening a seam of the coupling member to allow longitudinal relative movement between the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the applying tension to the retrieval tension member causes a portion of the coupling member to radially expand to reduce a force necessary to move the image capture device proximally from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 illuminating the esophagus with an illumination device coupled to the TEE ultrasound probe device via the coupling member when the TEE ultrasound probe device is disposed within the esophagus. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the retrieval tension member defines a lumen therethrough, and a communication line extends from the image capture device through the lumen of the retrieval tension member to outside the patient when both the image capture device and the TEE ultrasound probe device are disposed within the esophagus of the patient. 
     
     
       18. A method for assisting intubation of a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) ultrasound probe device, comprising:
 inserting a distal portion of a TEE ultrasound probe device having coupled thereto via a coupling member an image capture device into an oral cavity of a patient, the image capture device configured to capture image data of an esophagus of the patient when disposed therein, the coupling member contiguously and entirely circumscribing the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device to limit relative movement between the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device during the inserting; 
 moving the TEE ultrasound probe device coupled to the image capture device distally within the esophagus; 
 with both the TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device disposed within the esophagus, sliding the image capture device proximally along a body of the TEE ultrasound probe device and away from the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device, the coupling member contiguously and entirely circumscribing the body of the TEE ultrasound probe device during the sliding; and 
 removing, after the sliding, via the esophagus, and with the TEE ultrasound probe device disposed at least in part within the esophagus, the image capture device from the patient. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein during the inserting the coupling member resists longitudinal relative movement between the distal portion of the TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device in response to forces below a threshold force. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the image capture device is coupled to a retrieval tension member extending from the image capture device through the esophagus and out the oral cavity of the patient when the image capture device is disposed within the esophagus,
 the sliding the image capture device including applying tension to the retrieval tension member to apply a force exceeding the threshold force to the coupling member. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the threshold force is about 10-15 Newtons. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the threshold force is less than about 10 Newtons. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the tension corresponds to a force of about 12-18 Newtons applied to the coupling member. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the coupling member is formed of a flexible material, the coupling member radially expanding in response to the force exceeding the threshold force. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling member includes a seam, the method further comprising, with both the TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device disposed within the esophagus, opening the seam to allow longitudinal relative movement between the distal portion of the ultrasound probe TEE ultrasound probe device and the image capture device. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image capture device is coupled to a retrieval tension member extending from the image capture device through the esophagus and out the oral cavity of the patient when the image capture device is disposed within the esophagus,
 the removing the image capture device including applying tension proximally to the retrieval tension member to remove the image capture device from the patient via the esophagus of the patient, the retrieval tension member configured such that applying a compressive force distally to the retrieval tension member from outside the patient fails to transfer the compressive force to the image capture device disposed within the esophagus.